Chapter 13 · Show Control 121 Put the User in Control Keep in mind here that the entire point of an entertainment control system is to allow us to do a show. The computer, while it may be very sophisticated and do things we can't do, is still there to serve our needs. Forgive the User Remember that in our industry, operators are often working very quickly and under enormous pressure. It doesn't take long to add "error trapping" to your system, so that if a user enters something that doesn't make sense, the system won't do something stupid. Add undo if you can, and most of all, give the user a way to stop any process already under way. Provide Direct Manipulation Wherever possible, allow the user to manipulate data, control information, and so on directly, rather than having to open some arcane window or dialog box. Exploit the metaphor of the touch screen or the mouse or whatever you've got. Infocomm A/V Touchscreen Dashboard For the design of media touchpanel systems, the trade association Infocomm has developed a series of guidelines called the "Dashboard for Controls". Infocomm's idea is that any A/V sys- tem should be as easy to operate as a car, and the interfaces should be as easy to learn and